Home > Blogs > Rob Graham > Rob Graham Real Estate

What is the Best Closing Gift you ever Gave a Client?

By Rob Graham

Real Estate Agent with Windermere Real Estate

July 03, 2008 11:01 AM

Client Closing Gifts I posed this question on Trulia and it continues to get responses even several months after the initial response. I figured with so many more agents on AR I would throw out the question here and see what you all had to say. My goal is to create a great resource that we can all bookmark and refer back to for creative ideas for closing gifts. So help me out.

What is the best closing gift you ever gave to a client?

Here are some of mine:

Tiffany's sterling silver keychain with new house keys attached, wrapped in blue Tiffany's box. (Awww)
A big box full of items that you misplace or just plain forget when you move (ie. cleaning supplies, batteries, light bulbs, etc.)
Black and white county photo of the original home.

So how about it AR? What are some of your creative ideas?

Thanks,

Rob

Re-Blog

Comments(15)

Comment

Show All Comments

Sort:

Ron Moore

RE/MAX Professionals/Regal Builders - Retired - Florence, SC

MOORE Thoughts

Good question and I'm going to bookmark the blog to be sure I see the responses.

Jul 03, 2008 11:05 AM

Chris Dowd

Windermere Gig Harbor - Gig Harbor, WA

I gave two young brothers(first timers) who bought a house together a beginning basket. I filled a laundry basket full of everything you could think of to get started, right down to the can opener. They called me that night so thankful for all their goodies!

Jul 03, 2008 11:08 AM

Vicky Chrisner

Fieldstone Real Estate - Leesburg, VA

for buyers, i have someone that takes a photo and does a hand rendering of the home, puts it in a nice frame & mat. People ohhh and ahhh at the closing table (especially when the other agent got her client, well, nothing and we're all at the table).

my investors like the re investment book, light fixtures, lowes gift certificates, and most of all the free rental listing when they purchase.

i haven't found just the right thing for sellers, though.

Jul 03, 2008 11:09 AM

Steven Simmons and Marti Schmidt

John L Scott Ocean Shores - Ocean Shores, WA

Ocean Shores Real Estate www.theoceaniscalling.com

Our favorite gift is a salt lamp. They emit negative ions, similar to being at the Ocean. These ions help one to "feel good." Fitting gift being at the Ocean.

Happy Selling,

Steven Simmons & Marti Schmidt, Realtors, Prudential GHP, beautiful Ocean Shores, Washington

Jul 03, 2008 11:15 AM

Tim and Pam Cash

Crye-Leike (Sango) - Clarksville, TN

Real Estate Professionals - Clarksville TN

We give Longaberger baskets to most of our clients at closing. We have also given Outback and Lowes giftcards.

Jul 03, 2008 11:17 AM

Greg Fox

Realty World Wichita - Wichita, KS

Techy Broker in Wichita Kansas

I have made wine in the past, then create an attractive wine lable with their name/address on it. something of a keepsake. People like this MUCH!!

Jul 03, 2008 11:18 AM

June Lewis

Northwood Realty Services - New Castle, PA

Realtor Northwood Realty - New Castle,Pa Lawrence Co 7247304571

I have done various things:

We have a great local winery, so sometimes I put wine in a gift basket ( I owned a gift basket business)

I usually know my client well enough that I can personalize the gift to them.,

sometimes a gift certificate to their favorite restaurant, A Lowes or Home Depot card. The more I have been thinking about it the more I think I will for-go all my previous gifts and give gas cards. That's tailored to everyone needs

Jul 03, 2008 11:39 AM

Tracey Shrouder

360 Realty - Greensboro, NC

Listing Specialist

I have given Lowe's cards (since Realtors get that handy discount), I have paid for a home warranty $375 or so, I have given gift baskets that I made myself, I have given a free HOCOA membership (google it), and I even paid for one guy to dig a well ($700). BIG House!

Tracey

www.360realtygreensboro.com

Jul 03, 2008 11:49 AM

Alyce Martin

The Realty Group, LLC - Albuquerque, NM

Albuquerque - THE Place To Be!

The most memorable and appreciated closing gift I gave was an hour soak at 10,000 Waves in Santa Fe, NM. These are outdoor Japanese soaking tubs in the most glorious setting overlooking the mountains, Look it up on the web - it's fantastic! Alyce Martin, Keller Williams Realty/Albuquerque

Jul 03, 2008 12:16 PM

BILL CHERRY

Bill Cherry, Realtor - Dallas, TX

Broker & Wealth Coach

I didn't do it, but I wish I had thought of it. One of my friends moved here from the east. He had his young boys in the car and they drove through bad weather to Dallas to their new home. He had closed the purchase through the mail, and had gotten his key that way, too.

When they arrived, the lights were on, the furniture had been arranged and the pantry and frige were stocked.

Amazing? Sure.

But what's more amazing is that he never heard from that Realtor again. So he called me to list his home when he sold it last year.

So we have a great idea thats execution was incomplete.

Jul 03, 2008 02:12 PM

Robert L. Brown

www.mrbrownsellsgr.com - Grand Rapids, MI

Grand Rapids Real Estate Bellabay Realty, West Mic

Mine is not in the awwwww category. I get gift certificates from Family Christian Bookstores.

Jul 03, 2008 02:19 PM

LaShawn Norden

Keller Williams Heritage Realty - Longwood, FL

REALTOR, (321) 377-0157, Your Real Estate Advocate in Central FL

Rob~ the most memorable/cool gift I put together for a client moving to Florida was a big beverage cooler filled with monogrammed beach towels (they had four children), sunscreen, pool toys, and other fun things for outdoor play. This particular family moved here from Iowa and was so happy to have a home in Florida with a HEATED pool that I knew these items would come in handy!

Jul 04, 2008 02:10 AM

Lisa Friedman

Alliance Realtors - Bedminster, NJ

Central New Jersey Real Estate

I generally give a bottle of champagne or wine. If the people don't appear to drink, then I give a wreath or a decorative swag.

Jul 10, 2008 02:24 AM

Linsey Ehle

M Realty - Rancho Santa Margarita, CA

This is always a bit of a stresser for me. I try to be sensitive to what my clients like and sometimes it has me scrambling at the end rather than a great easy system as I would prefer.

For example, my clients that closed Friday - they are big into hiking and camping. They also joke about the friendship they have with someone that helps them at Lowes. So....I gave them gift certificates to Cabela's and one to Lowes, as well as a book of the hiking trails in California.

I've given away cookbooks for people who love to cook, book on wine for connessieurs, beach supplies for families that love to spend time at the beach....I think people respond to it. They feel like I've been really listening to them during the transaction.

That being said, it does make it a little more of a project at the end. I still think it's worth it.

Jul 15, 2008 03:17 PM

Linsey Ehle

M Realty - Rancho Santa Margarita, CA

BTW - love the Tiffany thing. Who doesn't love to see that little blue Tiffany box. Nice....

Jul 15, 2008 03:18 PM